Dear Daughters,

Following 14 months of lock downs and masks, it feels wonderful to be with Daughters again as gradually we begin in person events. The month of May just flew by with many in-person events, the Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Events, an induction ceremony for new Charlotte-Parkhurst Chapter and Rio Cosumnes Officers, Bakersfield Chapter’s 100th Anniversary, Hollywood Chapter meeting and a drive by fundraiser and picnic with Gold Trail Chapter. We are stepping out and it makes this State Regent’s heart sing to see old and new friends, to hear laughter and planning of future events and yes, to share those hugs we all have long been missing.

This State Regent, along with State Vice Regent Sharon Maas and VPG Adele Lancaster traveled to Kate Duncan Smith DAR School for Awards Day and Graduation presenting the scholarships from California and cheering on the students. We traveled to Huntsville, Alabama guided by our hostess, Betty Moore, who brought us to a very moving Veterans Memorial encompassing all wars that the United States has been engaged in, shared historic homes and drove us by NASA’s Space Camp. The next morning, we left Alabama and drove to Berry College in Georgia, where we were treated to a beautiful luncheon in the Ford Library with Scott Breithaupt and three Berry College students. Each of the students shared their experiences at the college and their hopes of becoming an early childhood educator, a nurse and a public health administrator. Lunch was followed by a campus tour where we were able to see several of the beautiful buildings on campus not seen on the DAR Schools Tour.

Our last stop on this whirlwind tour was at Tamassee DAR School in South Carolina where we attended the Awards Ceremony for the After School, Navigators and Junior American Citizenship programs and the graduation from the Early Childhood Learning Center. The After School program has had much success, with 100% of the students improving 1.1 grade levels in math and 89% of students achieving 1 grade level of improvement in reading. The After School Program includes STEM classes, drama, wellness and health, and a new robotics program where the students are learning computer coding. The JAC program won 1st place in division, 1st place at State (South Carolina) and 2nd place at National for their Mayflower Banner project. One student from the Navigators program shared that while her home experience was not the best, the Navigators program at Tamassee was helping to build her confidence levels and had taught her self-respect – a very touching moment in the program. These are success stories for the children of Tamassee! At the reception that followed, this State Regent had the honor of awarding a total of $15,000 dollars in Bridge Scholarships from her State Regent’s Project supporting the scholarships. The total awarded was in the following programs: $5,000 to provide a scholarship for one full year of early childhood learning, $8,000.00 to provide 4 scholarships for an academic year of afterschool learning, $1,000.00 to provide JAC supplies for 20 students and $1,000.00 to provide a summer of programming. Thank you to all who helped to make this possible with your donations and who continue to donate school supplies through Community Classrooms. You will hear more about opportunities to help as we move forward. Through the State Regent’s Project support of Bridge Scholarships and donations of supplies made though Community Classroom Committee, CA Daughters can continue to support the children at Tamassee, giving them the tools to succeed.

This Regent very much looks forward to welcoming many of you this month at our in-person California Congressional Tea in Glendora, June 5th, and at the Wreath Laying in Sonoma at the grave of Revolutionary War Patriot, Captain William Smith, Mountain Cemetery on June 19th.

We can’t wait for our Virtual Continental Congress at the end of the month. Be sure that you have taken the steps outlined in the President General’s Blog – “130th Virtual Continental Congress” dated May 26th. Information is also available on the National Members Website. Members need to register and sign up for sessions before Congress. There are so many sessions in this virtual Congress – you won’t want to miss a minute!! Delegates also need to sign up for Business Sessions and voting! Be sure you sign up for the Virtual CA Congressional Tea at 10am on Tuesday, June 29th !

So many events this month to be a part of !!!!

With much DAR love and appreciation for all that you do and all that you are,

Susan

Susan Broderick,

State Regent, CSSDAR